By Court Correspondent| There was drama at the Harare Magistrates Court when the prolific MDC President Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer, Thabani Mpofu turned up to represent a fraudster who allegedly forged a birth certificate and national identity documents to acquire a residency permit in Zimbabwe.

The late property mogul Edward Pfugari’s son who only came to Zimbabwe when he was a grown up man known as Edward Bayiti Rwendela is being represented by Adv Mpofu.

Rwendela, who in South Africa uses the knickname, Foreman allegedly forged a birth certificate and created a fake educational profile so that he can obtain a residency permit in Zimbabwe.

The South African Pfugari sibling only turned up after 39 years when his father was old and not well to begin claiming 50 percent shares of his father’s properties appeared at court with his co accused, one Daniso Jamu who acted as his agent.

Property mogul and businessman Edward Pfugari passed away last year in February.

Rwendela was however hauled to court after it was discovered that he forged a birth certificate and national identity document and other educational certificates to acquire a residency permit.

ZimEye however can authoritatively reveal that Rwendela was born and bred in South African and never acquired his education in Zimbabwe as he is alleging.

He also forged company documents to demand a 50% stake in the late property mogul’s entire business empire, pushing away 4 other surviving children.

Adv Mpofu was once billed to represent the same Pfugari siblings he is now opposing, on the same case. Having adulterated his robe, as it were, Adv Mpofu today told the court Edward Bayiti might have committed fraud but he remains the son of the late businessman.

He asked the court to throw out the case on the basis that it had no merit.

He said:

“For the purposes of the trial… the allegations are crafted, based on a story top and they do not and cannot disclose an offence….

Like my friend (prosecutor) has said…i am asking that we consider the matter ….under the circumstances as an application for exception… and we will be moving that the matter be moved as an application for exception which will be filed by 26 March 2020.”